Deck of playing cards



July 13, 1954 H ss 2,683,604

DECK OF PLAYING CARDS Filed March 14, 1951 ($1, 20 K2 Q MK Patented July 13, 1954 ED STATES ATENT OFFICE DECK {3F PLAYING CARDS Mass.

Application March 14, 1951, Serial No. 215,488

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a playing card, and particularly to playing cards that bear a letter or number or other indicia.

One object of my invention is to provide a playing card of unusuai shape whereby, when a plurality are held in the hand slightly spread out in overlapped relationship, the identification mark on each card is clearly visible at a glance and the card may be easily grasped and withdrawn from the Another ob t is to provide such a card with a e line w ch readily leads the eye of the player to the indentifying mark on the card at one corner where a plurality of cards are held in the hand slightly spread out as aforesaid.

A further object is to provide identification marks of two kinds such as a numeral and a design side side at one corner of the playing card, so that both the number and the design can be read in one glance directed horizontally across said corner. In games where a large number of cards are held in the hand, such an arrangement makes the identification marks on more cards visible while occupying a minimum amount of space in their spread-out relationship.

A still further object is to provide playing cards which will better serve their purpose as such, and yet, because of their unusual outline, are made with less material than that required for ordinary cards.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by an arrangement such as is disclosed by the drawings. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and, therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawings nor to the particular arrangement described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawings:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are front elevational views of playing cards embodying various features of my invention.

Figure 4 is a front elevational View of a plurality of cards, such as shown in said Figure 3, spread apart slightly as held in playing position.

As illustrated, my playing card C may be used to play various games requiring identification marks such as numerals, letters, designs and suits. It is usually made of a flat piece of paper, linen or plastic. Its upper edge or line is extends diagonally upward from left to right, and also its lower edge or line 12. The two sides, left and right, it and I5 respectively, preferably ar vertically parallel. In the upper left and lower right corners an obtuse angle is formed, while in the upper right and lower left corners an acute angle is formed. For instance, said right side line l5 extends upwardly at an angle of approximately 100 degrees to said lower edge 5?. and likewise said left side line i i to said upper line H Said upper line I!) extends at approximately an angle of degrees to right side line i5, while said lower line or edge l2 likewise so extends to said left side line or edge M.

Each said card C, as shown, is in the form of a rhoniboid, although the outline of the card need not necessarily be that. However, the upper line or edge I0 should always extend diagonally, although a left-handed player may prefer said line 18 to extend diagonally upward from right to left, which is the opposite to that shown in the drawings.

The card C shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, has an identification marking ll, shown as a number and suit, in the usual positions, namely in the left upper and right lower corners. In said Figure 2 a line 29 is drawn on the face of the card adjacent the upper edge from the identification marking H in the upper corner, to the opposite upper corner, and likewise at the lower edge. This line 20 is considerably of an aid to the eye in following the desired card from its upper outside edge to its identification marking l1. With the usual playing card it often happens that the fingers mistakenly grasp an undesired card because of the difficulty the eye has in following along from the right corner, where the fingers grasp the card, to the opposite corner where the identification marking usually is printed. Said line 20 is a substantial visual aid. It may be of the same color as that of the identification marking H.

In Figure 3 of the drawings my card C is provided with a visual marking 22 in the upper right corner as shown. It should be noted that the letter is followed by a design which, as shown, is the diamond suit at the side of the A, the two parts of this identification marking 22 being in side-by-side relationship, instead of placing one below the other. This is made possible because of the diagonally extending upper edge or line H) which makes more of the upper right corner visible than is visible when the card has the usual horizontal line extending across the card. Hence the card shown in said Figure 3 enables the player to have the identification markings 22 of more cards visible in the same space, In other words,

he does not have to spread or fan his cards out so much, which is objectionable, especially in games where a large number of cards are held in the hand at once, the identification mark of each of which should be visible.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing that not only does my card have the advantages set forth above; but it also requires less material while providing a card extendin the same distance between the lower left corner and the upper right corner as the usual rectangular card. Thus the card can be grasped at the lower left corner as easily as the ordinary rectangular card while at the upper right corner it can be withdrawn more easily from the others in the hand.

oftentimes one or more cards will be accidentally turned face-up in the pack which will not be noticeable in the ordinary pack of cards until they are dealt. Due to the unusual shape of my card, however, a card that is face-up in the pack will immediately be seen since it cannot be stacked evenly with the other cards that are face-down.

What I claim is:

l. A complete deck of playing cards having upper and lower edges which extend diagonally upward from left to right and opposite side edges which extend vertically parallel to each other between said upper and lower edges, said cards having an identification marking thereon in an upper corner and a lower corner at opposite sides thereof each marking embodying two parts in side by side arrangement, said cards having other identification markings in the other upper corner and the other lower cornerthereof each embodying two parts which are identical to the firstmentioned two parts and are in vertical arrangement, the first of said second-mentioned two parts being larger than either of the first-mew tioned two parts, said side by side upper and lower identification markings being respectively higher than and lower than the said other upper and lower identification markings when the cards are held in playing position, whereby said upper corner higher identification markings, when a plurality of cards are held in a predetermined position in overlapping, vertical alinement, will be fully visible while said larger first part in the other said upper corner of a card is partly covered by the next card in front of it.

2. A complete deck of playing cards having upper and lower edges which extend diagonally upward from left to right and opposite side edges which extend vertically parallel to each other between said upper and lower edges, said cards having an identification marking thereon in an upper corner and a lower corner at opposite sides thereof each marking embodying two parts in side by side arrangement, said cards having other identification markings in the other upper corher and the other lower corner thereof each embodying two parts which are identical to the firstmentioned two parts, the first of said second-mentioned two parts being larger than either of the first-nentioned two parts, said side by side upper and lower identification markings being respectively higher than and lower than the said other upper and lower identification markings when the cards are held in playing position, whereby said upper corner higher identification markings, when a plurality of cards are held in a predetermined position in overlapping, vertical alinement, will be fully visible while said larger first part in the other said upper corner of a card is partly covered by the next card in front of it.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 198,217 Saladee Dec. 18, 1877 347,192 Owen Aug. 10, 1886 1,597,660 Albert Aug. 24, 1926 

